F-35B among those performing at Cherry Point Air Show

It’s no secret. The F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is the future of Marine Corps aviation. That future will be revealed for the first time to the public at this weekend’s Cherry Point Air Show.

It’s no secret. The F-35B Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter is the future of Marine Corps aviation. That future will be revealed for the first time to the public at this weekend’s Cherry Point Air Show.

The fifth-generation fighter jet is scheduled for its first public flight on the East Coast during the Saturday and Sunday shows at Cherry Point.

“This is the first chance for everybody on the East Coast to get a chance to look at the plane,” said Marine pilot Maj. Tyler Bardo, of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.

The F-35B will replace current Marine Corps jets, including the Harrier, F/A-18 Hornet and EA-6B Prowler. The first squadrons of the new jets are expected at Cherry Point around 2021 or 2022.

Demonstrations of the new jet are scheduled for 4 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday.

“We are very excited about it,” Bardo said. “One of the great things is that we are doing it at Cherry Point, which is kind of a mecca for VTOL (vertical takeoff or landing) or STOVL (short takeoff or landing) aviation supporting the AV-8A and AV-8B for years, and now we’re going to bring this airplane to Cherry Point so all the local folks can see the airplane and see what the airplane is capable of.”

The Marine Corps is bringing three of the planes to the show, two for demonstrations and one to be positioned on the flight line for close-up viewing. Five F-35B pilots will be on hand to answer questions at the static display.

The three-day Cherry Point Air Show opens on Friday, with a night show full of pyrotechnics. The Black Diamonds will be among the civilian and military fliers during the day shows on Saturday and Sunday.

When the Black Diamond Jet Team forms its five-plane formation in the sky above the Cherry Point Air Show, lead pilot Jerry Kirby knows that spectators will be impressed.

“We fly one of the tightest formations of any demonstration team, including the Blue Angels and the Thunderbirds, and that alone is impressive enough,” Kirby said.

Kirby, 54, is a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who spent about 3,400 hours flying the F-15 Eagle. He now has more than 13,000 flight hours in 60 aircraft.

He is the lead pilot and war bird instructor for the civilian demonstration team flying a fleet of Aero L-39 high performance jet trainers. The team consists of former military pilots as well as civilians and is owned by Jared Isaacman, CEO of Harbortouch.

“We consider ourselves the premier civilian air demonstration squadron in the United States for sure,” Kirby said.

The planes will be going anywhere from 300 to 400 mph during the performance.

Page 2 of 2 - “There is somebody in front of the crowd virtually all the time until the very end of the routine when we get all five aircraft together and do a series of maneuvers,” Kirby said. “Every bit of it is exciting. I don’t think I even have a favorite part of it. Each different segment of it has its own different challenges. The hardest thing to pull off is the over-the-top maneuvers when I have the whole diamond with me, but it’s all equally as good. It’s going to be a crowd favorite.”

Kirby wants everyone to come out to see the show, not so much for the Black Diamonds but to support the Marine Corps.

“We urge everybody to come out to appreciate exactly what the military does for you and to see the awesome air power being demonstrated there,” he said. “And, we want them to come out to see the premier civilian jet demonstration squadron in the United States. Being able to perform at these air shows is the ultimate give-back for anyone who has been in the military.”

Bardo, the F-35B pilot, said air shows also connect the military with the public.

“Their hard-earned dollars are funding our military hardware and the things we do, so it’s important that we show how we’re using that investment,” he said. “It’s also a great recruiting tool for young men and women who are out there that are interested in a military career.”

And Bardo said Cherry Point was the perfect place to show off the F-35 because of the base’s 73-year heritage of Marine Corps aviation.

“This is the first time that we’re going to put this airplane on display,” Bardo said. “It’s going to be a great show and I wouldn’t want anyone to miss it.”

Parking and admission to the Cherry Point Air Show is free, though upgrades to bleacher, box or chalet seating do cost varying on the day.

Gates open for the Friday Night Show at 5 p.m., with performances scheduled for 6:45 p.m., culminating in a fireworks show at 10 p.m.

Gates open at 8 a.m. for the Saturday and Sunday shows with performances scheduled for 10 a.m. The Black Diamond Jet Team is scheduled to take flight around 2:45 p.m.

After Saturday’s show, country music artist Bryan Mayer, known for his singles “This is Me” and “Leaving Town,” is scheduled to put on a show beginning at 4:30 p.m.

For more information on the air show, go online to cherrypointairsshow.com.